Can-body-making machine.



L. G. SHARP.

CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE. u'rmon'rmx FILED DEO.13, 1900.

967,068. Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L 29% M vk 7584/6 27% rags 1n: NORRIS PETERS cm, \vAsnmaron, n. c

L. G. SHARP.

CAN BODY MAKING MAOHINE. 1

APPLICATION FILED DEO.13, 1906.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig. 5

ms NORRIS Pk TERS 50., vmsmuurou, n c,

L. 0.. SHARP.

CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIQATION FILED DBO. 13, 1906. 9 7,0 3, Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

13 BHEETS-SHEET 4.

flier/745115 THE NORRIS PETE: cl, WASHINGTON, o. c v

L. G. SHARP.

GAN BODY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION 1111.31) DBO.13, 190a. 967,068.. Patented Aug. 9,1910.

13 BHEETS-SKEET 5.

Wztnasaes f Iva/mi:

.ZeeChZd THENORRIS PETIRS 5a., WASHINGION, D. c.

c. SHARP. CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED DEG. 13, 1906.

967,068. N Patented Aug. 9,1910. I 1a SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Wifneaaa: Ira/@5227; ,L 66 T 5M7 W1. Ey/AMMd Quad:

run nmmws PETERS cm. wasnmsrorv, 0. c.

L. G. SHARP.

GAN BODY MAKING MACHINE. APPLIOATIONVIILED 11110.13, 1906.

967 068, Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

13'BHBETS-BHEET '7.

Zea Cffiarya WW 129M, zgtwwkygm.

THE uomws PETERS ca, WASHINGTON, n. r:v

L. c. SHARP. cm BODY MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILE\D DBO.13, 100a.967,068. Patented Aug. 9, 191-0.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

v rm: nonms PETERS 20., wAsnmamn, 0. c4

L. G. SHARP.

CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DEO.13, 1906.

967,068. Patented Aug.9,1910.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. WASHINGTON, n, c,

L. G. SHARP.

cm BODY mmmmcnmn. APPLI'GATION FILED D50. 13, 1906.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

18 BHEETS-BHEET 10.

awa 6 M 77: Zdc.

THE NORRIS Plums 0a,, wAsHnvcmN. n. c.

L. U. SHARP. CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED 1130.13, 1908.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

1m: NORRIS PETERS ca., wnsmmrrou, n c.

L 0. SHARP. (JAN BODY MAKING MAUHINB. APPLIUATION FILED D30. 13, 1906.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

' 13 BHBET8-SHEBT 12;

ewk. a

may;

L. O. SHARP.

UAN BODY MAKING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 13130.13, 190s.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910;

13 mum-4113m- 1s.

Wiinea'sw:

Tu: NORRIS Fin-1R: e0, wAsnmamn. n. c

LEE 0. SHARP, 01E OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

CAN-BODY-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. a, 1910.

Application filed December 13, 1906. Serial No. 347,634.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnn C. SHARP, a citizen of the United States,residing in Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, haveinvented a new and useful llmprovement in Can-Body-Making Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to can body making machines, to machines forforming can bodies from fiat blanks and soldering the side seamsthereof, and more particularly to that class of can body forming andside seam soldering machines wherein a series of continuously movingbody forming and holding carriages traveling on an endless track areemployed, as in the Foot-e Patent 80,256, for example.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic can body formingand side seam soldering machine of a simple, eiiicient and cheapconstruction, which will deliver the blanks one by one to the bodyforming and holding carriages as they pass, fold or form the blanks intocan bodies, solder the side seam and deliver the completed and solderedcan bodies from the machine, and in which the endless chain conveyermechanism heretofore customarily employed in machines of this class, maybe dispensed with.

My invention consists in the combination with a series or plurality ofcan body fo-rm ing and holding carriages, of an endless trackway uponand around which the can riages travel, of a rotating driver or wheelfor propelling the carriages along and around the trackway. The rotarydriving device or wheel is upright or has a horizontal axis, and thetrackway for the carriages is substantially circular except at its lowersegment where it is horizontal, to enable the can body holding carriagesto properly cooperate wit-h a solder bath and soldering iron. Pivotedlinks connect the rotary driving device or wheel with the carriages, andcompensate for the radially varying distance of the endless track fromthe driving wheel.

The invention further consists in the novel form of the path or trackwayfor the body forming carriages, whereby the same is made of minimumlength, in the novel construction of the driving means, the same being asimple rotating wheel or spider, in combination with the connectinglinks, whereby the carriages are given a positive action or movement andkept under positive control at all times, in the novel means forremoving a single can body blank from the pile of blanks and directingthe same into the path of the moving carriages and delivering the sameto a carriage, in the novel construction of the solder containingheating and controlling devices, in the novel construction of wipers ormeans for removing excess of solder from the seams, in the novel meansfor removing the soldered and completed can bodies from ,thecontinuously traveling carriages,'in the novel means for delivering theformed can bodies properly justified as to position, to the auxiliaryheading machines.

My invention also consists in the novel devices and in the novelcombinations of parts and devices herein shown or described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,and in which similar reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodyingmy invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the same,thesection being taken on the general plane of the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a plan view of the feed table and its accessories; Fig. 4 is an endelevation of the same; Fig. 5 is a longi tudinal section thereof, thesection being in the plane of the line BB of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a detailsectional view on line 11 of Fig. 3 through a portion of the can. blankmagazine, showing the spring top employed to prevent the drawing of ablank back into the magazine after the removal therefrom; Fig. 7 is adetail side elevation of the electrical connections of the magnets forthe mechanism employed for lifting the blanks from the feed table aftertheir removal from the magazine; Fig. 8 is a further detail of theelectrical connecting means and the spring stop employed for insuringthe proper alinement of the lifting magnets; Fig. 9 is a de tail view ofa portion of the track showing the cans 148 and 14:9 thereon andadjacent parts; Fig. 10 is a detail longitudinal sec tion of the soldercontaining and heating devices, the section being taken on the line CCof Fig. 11; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 12 is a transversesection through the solder reservoir and pump, the section being on theplane indicated by the line DD of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a longitudinalsection through the solder reservoir showing also the driving mechanismof the solder pump, the section being on the line EE of Fig. 11; Fig. 11 is a detail of a portion of the solder pump driving mechanism; Fig. 15is a transverse section of the solder containing and heating devices,the section being on the line F-F of Fig. 11; Fig. 16 is an endelevation of the solder pot; Fig. 17 is a detail plan view of anadjustable flexible wiper for removing the excess of solder from theseamed bodies; Fig. 18 is a detail side elevation of the solder feedingmechanism; Fig. 19 is a detail end view of the same; Fig. 20 is a detailtransverse section through the solder feed rolls; Fig. 21 is a detailsectional plan of a portion of the supporting bracket for the solderfeed rolls; Fig. 22 is a detail section of the friction connecting meansfor the main driving pulley of the machine; Fig. 23 is a detail endelevation of the ejector for removing the formed bodies from thecarriages and carrying the same to the justifying chute, and the drivingmeans therefor, showing also the carriage track in section on line G-Gof Fig. 1; Fig. 24 is a detail of the adjustable gripper for holding thecan bodies to the ejector; Fig. 25 is a detail side elevation of aportion of the carriage track showing the can for releasing the holdingpad of the carriage; Fig. 26 is a detail side elevation of the driv ingmeans for the feed table; Fig. 27 is a side elevation of the justifyingdelivery chute and its connecting means with the auxiliary headingmachine; Fig. 28 is an end elevation of the lower end of the justifyingchute; Fig. 29 is a side elevation of the upper end of the deliverychute showing an alternative means for retaining the can bodies therein;Fig. 30 is a sectional end view of the same, the section being on theline HH of Fig. 29; Fig. 31 is an end elevation of the forming carriagefor round can bodies; Fig. 32 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 33is an end elevation of the same with the folding wings closed; Fig. 3 1is a longitudinal central section thereof; Fig. 35 is an end elevationof the forming carriage for square can bodies; Fig. 36 is a sideelevation of the same, showing the wings open; Fig. 37 is an endelevation of the same with the folding wings closed; Fig. 38 is alongitudinal central section thereof; Fig. 39 is a front elevation ofthe tracks for controlling the movement of the folding wings of theforming carriages; Figs. 40, 11 and 42 are diagrammatic views showingthe positions assumed by the folding wings of the carriers when the sameare in the positions indicated by lines KK, LL, and MM, respectively, ofFig. 39; Fig. 43 is an end elevation of a portion of the carriage tracksshowing the means employed for introducing the carriages into saidtracks; Fig. 414 is a sectional plan view of the same.

In the drawing 1 is the main frame of the machine, the same preferablycomprising two side frames connected by suitable brackets or webs 2 andcross rods 3.

Between the upright side frames 1 1 and secured thereto by suitablesupporting brackets 4 5, 6 are the endless carrier tracks 7 7 in or uponwhich the series of can body forming and holding carriages 131 travel.The endless tracks 7 are upright and substantially circular in formabout the axis of the rotary driving device or wheel 15 as a center, andare furnished at their lower part with a horizontal section 12, unitedto the circular portion of the track by upright straight sections 8 andcurved sections 11. The several track sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 arejoined by suitable overlapping portions 12, as indicated in thedrawings. 13 is the shaft. of the rotary drivin device or wheel 15, thesame being ournaled in suitable bearings 1-1- on the frame. The rotarydriving device or wheel 15 consists, preferably, simply of a central hubhaving integral spokes or radial arms. Pivotal swinging links 16 connectthe can body forming and holding carriages with the rotary drivingdevice or wheel, one link 16 connecting each carriage 131 with one ofthe radial arms or spokes of the rotary driving device. The variouspositions assumed by the swinging links in compensating for the varyingradial distances of the carriage track 7 from the shaft or axis of therotary driving device 15, is clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

On the shaft 13 is a gear 17 positioned as shown in Fig. 2 and whichmeshes with a pinion 18 on a shaft 19 journaled in the bearings 20 and21. On said shaft 19 is the main driving pulley 22 which is connected toany suitable source of power. The relative sizes of the gear 17 and thepinion 18 is inversely proportioned as one to the number of the formingcarriages, so that for each revolution of the shaft 19 the formingcarriages are advanced a distance equal to the interval between anyadjacent pair of the same.

At the front and near the upper end of the side frames 1 the brackets 22are secured. In said brackets the shafts 23 are adjustably secured byset screws as indicated at Fig. 1 and on said shafts are secured theside pieces 24: of the feed table top 25. Secured on the upper side ofthe feed table top are the vertical guide ways 26 of the general formindicated in Figs. 3, 1 and 5, the same forming a magazine adapted tocontain a pile of can body blanks X, as indicated in F 3, 4-, 5 and 6.Positioned below the central part of the pile X of blanks is alongitudinally reciprocating plate 27 fitting into and movable within asuitable groove in the table top 25. The forward portion of the plate 27is offset an amount equal to the thickness of one of the can body blanksand at said offset is placed a removable strip 28 secured to plate 27 byscrews 29. The said strip is preferably of hard metal capable ofresisting wear and, when worn, may be readily replaced. The front lowerend of the guide ways 26 is open an amount equal to the thickness of oneof the blanks, as indicated in Figs. and 6, so that when the plate 27 ispushed forward the strip 28 engages the rear edge of the lower edge ofthe lower blank and pushes the same out of the magazine onto the tabletop in front thereof. On pulling the plate 27 back any tendency of theblank to return to the magazine is made impossible by the springactuated stops 30 shown in Fig. 6, and in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 5.Said stops also serve to hold down the blank near the ends until it hasbeen pushed entirely out of the magazine, thereby assuring the properengagement of the sheet by the reciprocative feeding plate. The rearedges of the spring stops are beveled, as shown, so that the blanks maybe readily pushed out of the magazine. The plate 27 is given anintermittent reciprocating motion as follows: Below the table top is aplate 31 connected to a plate 27 through slots 32 in the table top byscrews 33, the proper distance between the side plates being maintainedby spreader blocks 34. On the plate 31 is a block 35 to which ispivotally connected a short connecting rod 36. The coin necting rod 36extends, and is pivotally joined to the head 37 on the rod 38,adjustably held in block 39 on the shaft 40, journaled in bearings 41 onthe side pieces 24 of the table.

On the inner end of the shaft 19 is a crank 42 from which a connectingrod 43 extends to an arm 44 secured to a short shaft 45 journaled in abearing 46 on one of the side frames 1. On the outer end of said shaftis an arm 47 at the lower end of which is a pin 48 extending through aslot 49 in a rod 50. The length of the slot 49 may be adjusted by a setscrew 51. The end of the rod 50 is tubular in form and a rod 52 isadjustably held therein by a set screw 53. The rod 52 passes through ablock 54, which block is normally held firmly against the head 55 onsaid rod by a spring 56 placed over said rod between the block and thetubular port-ion of said rod 50. The lower end of the block 54 has anotch 57. Extending forwardly from the said block is a round handle 58,while on the rear side thereof is a flat tail piece 59. The foregoingtrain of connecting mechanism is clearly shown in Fig. 26. On the shaft40 is a crank arm with which the notch 57 in the block 54 is adapted toengage. The crank 42 on shaft 19 moving continuously imparts acontinuous reciprocating motion to the pin 48 on arm 47. The rod 50 isgiven an intermittent reciprocating motion thereby, pausing at tached tothe table top 25.

each end of its stroke while the pin 48traverses the length of the slot49. The intermittent motion imparted to the shaft 40 intermittentlyreciprocates the feed plate 27 through the connecting mechanism hereinbefore described. When desired to stop the action of the feedingmechanism, the handle 58 on the block 54 is raised and forced betweenthe spring clips 61 on the bar 62 at- The block 54 on being thus heldout of engagement with the crank 60 no motion is imparted to the feedingmechanism. The purpose of the tail piece 59 is to prevent the spring 56from dropping down into engagement with the crank 60 when the handle 58is released from the spring clips to again throw the feed mechanism intooperation. The spring 56 by being compressed should an abnormal tensionbe required to operate the feed table, prevents breakage of any of theparts of said mechanism should the same have become choked or clogged inany manner. A handle 63 secured to the shaft 40 permits the same to bemoved and the feed mechanism operated by hand, should this be desired.

Pivoted on the side pieces 24 of the feed table and in the relativepositions shown in Figs. 1,3, 4 and 5, are the arms 64 carrying theelectro-magnets 65 from which the elongated pole pieces 67, extendinwardly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Integral with the. arms 64 aredownwardly extending arms 68 which are connected by rods 69 to the arms70 on the ends of the shaft 40, as shown. Thus when the shaft 40 isrotated to operate plate 27 and remove a blank from the magazine thepole pieces 66 of the electro-magnets are moved downwardly through anarced path to the pole pieces and is lifted thereby to a verticalposition and into the path of the forming carriages to be engaged andremoved thereby, as will be described hereinafter. Integral with thearms 64 and 68 is an are or segment 71 with which engages a roundpointed spring'actuated stop 72 car-- ried on the arm 73, adjustablyheld on the shaft 23. The said spring stop engaging depressions on theface of the segment at the points coincident with the limits of movementthereof holds the same against accidental displacement during the timein which it stands stationary at said limits of movement. On the side ofthe segment 71 is a segment of insulating material 74 on the face ofwhich is secured an are 75 of conducting material. A spring-actuated pin7 6 carried by a block of insulating material 77 on the arm 73, engagesthe said conducting are. One terminal of the electro-magnet 65 isconnected by a wire 78 to the conducting are 75, while the otherterminal of the electro-magnet may be grounded to the frame of themachine, or a second conducting arc and contact pin may be providedsimilar in construction and arrangement to the are and pin 76. Suitableelectrical connections are made to the pin 76 and frame of the machine,by which an electrical current may be directed through theelectro-magnets to energize the same. The construction and arrangementof the spring stop 7 2 and the electrical connections are shown in Figs.7 and 8. lVhile'the use of electro-magnets to lift the blanks from thefeed table after the same have been removed from the magazine, and tocarry said blanks into the path of the forming carriages, is thepreferred construction, this function of the machine may be performed invarious ways.

Secured to the lower cross pieces of the side frames 1 are the bars 79supporting the solder pot. Threaded rods 80 having nuts 81 thereon passthrough said bars and extend upwardly therefrom, the height thereofbeing adjustable by means of said nuts 81. The rods 80 are screwed intosuitable bosses on the lower side of the cylindrical body 82 of thesolder pot. At the upper part of the cylindrical body 82, and preferablyintegral therewith, is a longitudinally extending body of metal 83,within which is a slot 84, as indicated in Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 15.Surrounding said slotted body or slotted soldering iron is a trough 86adapted to receive the overflow from the slot and conduct the same tothe solder reservoir, as will appear hereafter. The bottom of the troughis inclined, as shown by the dotted line 38%.011 Fig. 10, toward theopening 87 leading to the bottom of the pump cylinder 88 at the side ofthe solder reservoir 89. The cylindrical opening extends across belowthe bottom of the solder reservoir and below the slot 8 1 with which itis connected by a hole 90, as indicated in Figs. 10, 11 and 15. Holes 91connect the reservoir with the opening 85, as shown. lVorking within thepump cylinder is a piston 92 from the bottom of which an opening 93extends upwardly, thence to one side of the piston where it terminatesin a groove or slot 9% in the side of the piston, as shown in F ig.'12.In the side of the cylinder adjacent to the groove 9-1 is a hole 95which lies in front of said groove when the piston is near the bottom ofits downward stroke. Molten solder overflowing from the slot 8% runsaround the inclined bottom of the trough 86 and flows down into the bottom of cylinder 88 through the hole 87. As the piston moves on thedownward stroke the opening 87 is cut ed by the lower edge of thepiston, and the solder in the bottom of the cylinder is forced upthrough the hole 93 in the piston and runs out of the same through theslot 9 1 and hole 95 into the reservoir. The actuating means for thepump piston is shown in Fig. 13. An eccentric or cam 97 is secured onthe shaft 13 at the position inclicated in Fig. 2. A revoluble disk 98carried on the upwardly extending arm of the bell crank lever 99,pivoted at 100 on the side frame 1, is held in engagement with the cam97by the adjustable weight 90 on the rod 101 secured to the bell cranklever, as shown in Figs. 1 and 13. On the end of the horizontal arm ofthe bell crank lever 09 is a pin 102 which passes through a slot 103 inthe pump piston rod 104-. The upper end of the piston rod is bent overinto a hook 105 to which is attached a spring 107, which is extendeddownward and attached to the end of the pin 102. Should the machine berun when the solder is not molten, thus preventing movement of the pumppiston, the movement of the bell crank lever 99 merely stretches thespring 107, the pin 102 moving up and down in the slot 103 withoutresisting or lowering the piston rod. To facilitate removal of solderfrom the pot and reservoir, should it be desired, an opening 108 isprovided extending from the lowest point of the passage 85, whichopening is normally closed by a plug 109, as shown in Fig. 13. Byremoving said plug when the solder is molten, all the contents of thereservoir and solder pot may flow through the same.

Passing through one end of the cylindrical body 82 of the solder pot, isa perforated tube 110 at the outer end of which are suitable connections111 and 112 for admitting air and gaseous fuel, respectively, in theproper proportions for producing complete and perfect combustion. Intothe lower side of the cylindrical body 82 is screwed a pipe 113 whichextends to a point underneath the solder reservoir, as shown in Fig. 15.A nipple llet entering the pipe 110 extends into the pipe 113 and gaspassing through the same is burned under the solder reservoir, keepingthe same heated. One end of the cylindrical pot body 82 is closed by amovable plate 115 which may be turned aside, as shown in Fig. 10, togive access to the in,- terior of the pot. The said plate is normallyturned so as to close the end of the cylindrical body and an opening 110is provided therein for the escape of the products of combustion formedwithin the cylinder. To prevent unnecessary radiation of heat from thesolder pot, the cylindrical body thereof may be covered with asbestos orother nonconducting substance, as shown at 234:, Figs. 2, 10, 12 and 13.

The level of the molten solder in the reservoir is maintained at a pointa little above the top of the slot 8 1 so that a bead of the moltensolder will project above the top of said slot, but will not normallyrise to a point suflicient to overflow into the trough 86. Provision ismade for automatically replacing the solder removed by adhering to thecan bodies as follows: A ratchet wheel 117 is revolubly mounted on asmall shaft 118 held by the bracket 119, secured to the side frame 1, asshown in Fig. 1. An arm 1 120 is pivotally hung on said shaft and con- 5nected by a rod 121 to the slotted lever 122 on the feed table shaft 10.On the arm 120 is a pawl 123 engaging the ratchet117. Secured to theratchet is a corrugated roller 12%, and also a small gear 125 both ofwhich are rotatable with the ratchet. A bent lever 126 is pivoted on thebracket 119, on one end of which is adjustably secured a weight 127,while on the other end is carried a corrugated roller 128 and a gear 129similar in size and construction to the roller and gear 124 and 125. Thesaid rollers and gears are normally held in engagement by the weight127. A spool of wire or ribbon solder Q is supported on suitablebrackets 130 from which spool the wire or ribbon is passed between thecorrugated rollers 12st and 128,

thence downward into the solder reservoir:

89. The position of the connecting rod at its point of connection withthe slotted lever 122 determines the length of stroke of the connectingrod 121, this in turndetermines the number of ratchet teeth engaged ateach stroke the amount of turn of the ratchet and the length of the wireor ribbon of solder fed. The construction indicated permits the amountof solder fed to the reservoir to be accurately gaged according to theamount consumed. In this connection may also be noted the fact that asthe shaft 10 is only moved when a blank is fed to the forming carriages,the mechanism will be actuated and the solder fed unto the reservoironly when the can body blanks are being fed to v the forming carriagesand the solder consumed thereby.

The body forming and holding traveling carriages 131 which move alongthe track 7, are preferably provided with wheels 132 to diminish thefriction, and each has a horn or mandrel 137 around which the can bodyblank is formed or folded, and a pair of opening and closing foldingwings or jaws 1&1 which fold or shape the blank around the horn ormandrel 137 The carriage 131 has a standard 133 extending upward, and aspace block 134: secured thereto by a screw 135 and pin 136. The mandrelor horn 137, corresponding in form to the inside of the can body desiredto be made on the machine, is secured on the forward face of the spaceblock 134. The lower front edge of the spacer block is extended outwardto form a gage plate 138, as indicated. From the front part of the baseplate 131 a standard 139 extends upwardly and between said standard andthe rear standard 133 are the small shafts 1 10 on which are pivoted thefolding wings 141. Springs 142 coiled around the shafts 140 engage thefolding wings and normally hold the same outwardly away from the mandrel137. The said wings when pressed inward against the. tension of thecoiled springs 142 are adapted to close the mandred except at a portionof the upper part where the seam or lap of the can body is made. Beneaththe said lapping point in the mandrel, is placed a block of somerefractory material 143, which is a poor conductor of heat, such ascarbon, fireclay or the like. The object of this provision is tofacilitate the flow of solder in the seam by preventing the radiation ofheat into the metallic body of the mandrel. Below the mandrel andnormally pressed against the same is a gripping clamp 14% carried by alever 1415 pivoted on and passing through a slot in the rear standard133. At the rear end of said lever the same is engaged by a spring 1 16,the opposite end of which rests against the tail piece 147 on the rearstandard. 011 the sides of the lever are rollers 150 adapted to engagethe cams 1418 and 1&9 secured to the carriage track adjacent to thepoints at which the can body blank is gripped and released. The saidcams by raising the rollers pull the gripping pad 144 downward and outof contact with the mandrel and permit the ready introduc tion of thecan blank and removal of the seamed body, as will be more fully setforth hereinafter. In the under side of the base plate 131 are recesses151, into which fit the ends of the swinging links 16 connected with thearms 15, as before mentioned.

In the carriage track section 8 are small removable portions 152, asshown in Figs. 13 and 1%, by removing which the wheels 132 of thecarriages may be introduced into the trackway, after which the saidpieces are replaced as shown. On the sides of the folding wings 1411 arerollers 153, which are adapted to be engaged by suitable trackways tohold said wings closed upon the mandrels. Said wing track 154 extendsparallel with the lower parts of the carriage track sect-ion 9, tracksections 11, section 10, section 8, and approximately one half of thesemicircular section 7, throughout which portions said wing track issupported and held in position by the braces 155 and 156, as indicatedin Figs. 1 and 2. At a point near the top of the semicircular carriagetrack section the wing tracks spread outward away from the mandrel bythe coiled springs 1&2 on the shafts 1 1-0. To insure the positiveopening of the wings, opening wings 158 are provided, the points ofwhich engage the beveled portions 159 on the inside of the wings. Saidopening rails extend substantially parallel with the wing tracks 157 andare supported, together with the wing tracks, by the curved straps 160secured to the carriage track section 7, as shown in Figs. 1 and 23.

At a point opposite the position of the can body blank lifting magnets65, when in the raised or vertical position, the wing tracks 157 and theopening rails 158 are given an additional depression, as shown at 161and 162, Figs. 1 and 39, which depression causes the folding wings toassume a position, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 40. Simultaneouslywit-h said opening the grip ping pad 144 is opened by the cam 149, asbefore stated, and the blank held by the magnets enters between themandrel and the gripping pad, as Y (Fig. 40), and strikes the gage plate138 which properly justifies the blank, after which the rollers 150become disengaged from the cam 149 and the gripping pad is again pressedto ward the mandrel, thereby firmly holding the blank in position. -Asthe carriage continues its downward motion the ends of the blank areengaged by the outwardly curved ends 175 of the opening rolls 158,whereby said ends are raised, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 40, sothat when the folding wings are closed the points of the same willproperly engage the under side of the blank to fold the same around themandrel.

In most of the cans in general use, the blanks are provided with atearing strip, the end of which projects beyond the main body of theblank. To prevent this end of the tearing strip becoming soldered to thebody, it is necessary to protect the same from the solder as thecarriage passes over the solder, the most convenient manner of soprotecting the strip being to fold the same under the wing on theopposite side of the mandrel. The manner in which this folding under ofthe strip is accomplished, is clearly illustrated in diagrammatic Figs.41 and 42. The folding wing on the side of the mandrel, opposite thetearing strip is first closed by the wing track portion 163, the otherwing being partly closed, as shown in Fig. 41. After thus closing thewing opposite the strip, said wing is again permitted to open outwardslightly by a depression 164 in its wing track, the other wing beingmeanwhile completely closed, thus bringing the strip into position, asshown in Fig. 42, after which the first wing is again closed by itstrack, the strip fitting into a suitable recess 165. To hold in positionthe side of the blank opposite the strip while the wing on said side isopened to allow the folding underof the strip, a small spring 166 isprovided on the inside of said wing, which spring presses the blankinward, as indicated in the drawings. Instead of using spring 166 tohold the blank in position during the folding of the strip, raised or inclined portions 175 on the track 158, as illustrated in Fig. 39, and indotted lines in Fig. 40, may be employed, the same being adapted toengage the edge of the blank and hold the same against the mandrel whilethe strip is folded in.

After folding the blanks around the mandrel, as described, the carriagespass onto the horizontal track section ll), in passing over which thelap of the folded blank is bathed in the bead of solder projecting fromthe slot 84 of the solder pot. 1n passing over the end of the solder potthe seam is engaged by the wiping point 167 on the pot, and the majorpart of the adhering solder wiped off, the same flowing back into theinclined trough 86, and being returned to the solder reservoir, aspreviously described. A further portion of the adhering excess of solderis scraped off by the wiping strip 168 and falls into a suitable tray16$) sup ported by the side frame 1, as shown in Fig. 1. As a furthermeans of removing any excess of solder from the outside of the seam, Iprovide a flexible wiping strip 170, adjustably held by the rod 171secured to the small bracket 172 011 the wing track 154, as shown indetail in Fig. 17. Any solder which may be scraped off by the wiper 170falls on the inclined guideway 17 3 and is returned thereby to the tray169.

After passing the solder pot and the various wiping devices, thesoldered seams are cooled while the carriages pass up the track section8 and around the first part of the curved track section 7. After the o)enin l a of the folding wings of the wing track portion 157 and thebeginning of the opening rails 158, the gripping pad 144 is lowered bythe rollers 150 engaging with the cam 148, and the seamed body isremoved from the mandrel, as follows: The curved brackets 174 (shown indetail in Fig. 23), are secured to the carriage track section 7, asindicated. In the bearings 176, at the top of said standards, a shaft177 is journaled. The proper alinement of the bearings is insured by thebrace rod 178 passing through lugs 179 on the top of the bearings, asshown. On the end of the shaft 177 is a crank 180, through the end ofwhich passes the stem of a block 181.. On the shaft 1.), at the positionshown in F 2, is an eccentric 182, from the strap of which, 183, a rod184 extends upwardly and passes through the swiveled block 181 on thecrank 180. On the upper end of rod 184 is a head 185, and between theblock 181 and the adjustable collar 186 is a spring 187. The movement ofthe eccentric 182 imparts a reciprocating movement to the rod 184, whichmovement on its upward motion is yieldingly imparted to the shaft 177through the spring 187, block 181 and crank 180, and on its downwardmovement positively imparted by the head 185. To insure smoothness ofmotion of shaft 177, the friction pulleys 188 are placed thereon overwhich are passed the bands 189, one end of which is adjustably held bythe nuts 190, while the band is kept under a constant tension by thesmall coiled spring 191 beneath the head on the other end thereof, asshown in Fig. l.

on said collars are pivoted the arms 193 which are adapted to swing downinto the path of the forming carriages. At the upper ends of said arms193 the same are turned inwardly, and through the same are passed thesmall bolts 19a, between the heads of which and the arms are springs195, which normally press upwardly and tend to pull the lower ends ofthe arms toward each other. The amount of said inward pull is regulatedby small adjusting screws 196. At the lower ends of the arms 193 arebosses 197, in which the stems 198 are adjustably held by set screws199. On said stems are small lugs between which are pivoted the latches200, having the tongues 201 extending over the ends of the stems, whichtongues are normally held against en gagement with the stems by thesprings 202 held in suitable recesses in the stems, as shown in Fig. 24.As the arms 193 are swung backward by the eccentric 182, acting throughthe mechanism described, the forming carriages move into positionadjacent to the same, the rearwardly extending curved edges of thelatches 200 engage the front edge of the seamed can body, and the arms193 are pressed outward allowing the latches to pass to the rear of thecan body. The arms then starting their forward movement and moving at agreater speed than the carriage, the fingers 201 engage the edges of thecan body gripping the same between them and the edge of the stem, pullthe can body off the mandrel and carry the same upward to the mouth ofthe delivery chute. The openings 202, at the sides of the mandrels, areto permit the passage of the latches 200 in removing the can body fromthe mandrels.

As the arms 193 reach the limit of their upward movement, the can bodyenters the month 203 of the delivery chute and is there held, so that onthe return stroke of the arms 193 the body is left in the chute by thefollowing means: Supported above the mouth piece 203 of the deliverychute is a small shaft 204, on which is secured an arm 205 carrying theplate 206, which is adapted to swing in under the mouth piece 203 toclose the same. A spring 207 attached to the arm 205, normally pulls thesame over the opening to the mouth piece 203, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 27 Pivoted on the shaft 204: is an arm 208, connected by the rod209 to the arm 210 secured to the shaft 177. On the shaft 201 is secureda disk 211 having a single ratchet tooth on the face thereof, with whicha pawl 212 carried by the arm 208, is adapted to engage. As the shaft177 is rotated to move the arm 193, carrying the can body up into themouth Between the bearings 176 thecoli lars 192 are secured on the shaft177, and

piece 203, the plate 206 is drawn back, as shown in Fig. 27, through theaction of the pawl 212 and connecting mechanism as de' scribed. As thearm 208 reaches the limit of its backward movement the pawl engages apin 213 carried on the supports of shaft 204, said pin releasing thepawl from the disk 211 and permitting the sprin 207 to quickly pull theplate 206 over the opening in the mouth piece 203, as indicated indotted lines in Fig. 27. The plate 206 extending between the arms 195behind the can body, retains the can body in the mouth piece so that itbecomes detached from the grippers on the arms, and is retained in themouth piece. As soon as the can body is released, the same slides downthe justifying chute 214 and into the horizontal conveyer trough 215extending to the auxiliary heading machine. In the bottom of said troughis a continuously running belt 216, onto which the'bodies are pushed bythe plate 217, reciprocatingly operated fromthe hea ling machine by arod 218. Should it not be desired to run the bodies into the headingmachine, a door 219 at the bottom of the justifying chute may be opened,as shown in Fig. 28, thus permitting the bodies to fall out of the chuteinto any suitable receptacle. It will be noted that by the peculiar formof the justifying chute, the can bodies are placed in the conveyingtrough 215 with the seamed edges upward, so that they may be readilyinspected by the operator of the machine, said trough going directlypast the feed table, as shown in Fig. 1. An alternativc mechanism forretaining the can bodies in the mouth piece 203, is shown in Figs. 29and 30, the same consisting of the latches 220 pi'votally held at theupper side of the mouth piece, and normally pressed inward by thesprings 221 as far as permitted by the bolts 222 passing through thesides of the mouth piece.

In Figs. 31 to 34, inclusive, is shown the construction of a formingcarriage for use with round cans. The general construction of saidcarriage is similar to the carriage for square cans, shown in Figs. 35to 38. A noticeable variation in structure is the provision ofadditional rollers 233 for engaging with the opening rails 158 insteadof the beveled portions 159 shown 011 the square can carriage. lVithround cans, as the seam is made. on an are, it is necessary to bend theendsof the blank in order to cause the same to lie smoothly and make aflat, smooth seam. This bending is accomplished by the following means:Revolubly mounted on the bracket 22% secured to the feed table top, arethe rollers 225 and 226, as shown in Figs. 1, .3 and 5. The engagingpoint between said rollers lies directly below the face of the polepieces 66 of the lifting magnets, so that when the can body blanks arepulled off said

